Staphylococcus aureus antigen

Abstract

A negatively-charged S. aureus antigen contains beta-hexosamine as a major carbohydrate component. S. aureus strains that carry the antigen account for nearly all of the clinically significant strains of S. aureus that are not Type 5 or Type 8 strains. The antigen can be used in combination with S. aureus Type 5 polysaccharide antigen and S. aureus Type 8 polysaccharide antigen to provide nearly 100% coverage of S. aureus infection. The antigen and antibodies to the antigen are useful in kits and assays for diagnosing S. aureus infection.

What we claim is:  
     
       1. A diagnostic assay for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antibody in a sample, comprising: 
       mixing a  S. aureus  antigen that comprises β-linked hexosamine, that contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and that reacts with antibodies to ATCC 55804, with a sample suspected of containing anti- S. aureus -specific antibody; and  
       detecting binding between said antigen and  S. aureus -specific antibody in said sample.  
     
     
       2. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  1 , wherein said antigen is immobilized on a solid matrix. 
     
     
       3. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  1 , additionally comprising mixing at least one of Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  antigen with said sample. 
     
     
       4. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  1 , additionally comprising mixing both Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  antigens with said sample. 
     
     
       5. A kit for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antibody in a sample, comprising: 
       a  S. aureus  antigen that comprises β-linked hexosamine, that contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and that reacts with antibodies to ATCC 55804;  
       means for detecting binding between said antigen and antibodies in a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus  specific antibody; and  
       instructions for mixing said antigen with said sample suspected of containing  S. aureus -specific antibody and monitoring said mixture for binding between said antigen and said  S. aureus -specific antibody in said sample.  
     
     
       6. A kit as claimed in claim  5 , wherein said antigen is immobilized on a solid matrix. 
     
     
       7. A kit as claimed in claim  5 , additionally comprising at least one of Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  antigen which are mixed with said sample. 
     
     
       8. A kit as claimed in claim  5 , additionally comprising both Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  antigens which are mixed with said sample. 
     
     
       9. A diagnostic assay for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antigen in a sample, comprising: 
       mixing a monoclonal antibody to a  S. aureus  antigen that comprises β-linked hexosamine, that contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and that reacts with antibodies to ATCC 55804 with a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus  antigen; and  
       detecting binding between said antigen and said monoclonal  S. aureus  antibody.  
     
     
       10. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  5 , wherein said antibody is immobilized on a solid matrix. 
     
     
       11. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  9 , additionally comprising mixing at least one of a Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  monclonal antibody with said sample. 
     
     
       12. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  9 , additionally comprising mixing both Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  monoclonal antibodies with said sample. 
     
     
       13. A kit for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antigen in a sample, comprising: 
       a monoclonal antibody to a  S. aureus  antigen that comprises β-linked hexosamine, that contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and that reacts with antibodies to ATCC 55804 with a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus  antigen;  
       means for detecting binding between said monoclonal antibody and antigen in a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus  specific antigen; and  
       instructions for mixing said monoclonal antibody with said sample suspected of containing  S. aureus -specific antigen and monitoring said mixture for binding between said monoclonal antibody and  S. aureus -specific antigen in said sample.  
     
     
       14. A kit as claimed in claim  13 , wherein said monoclonal antibody is immobilized on a solid matrix. 
     
     
       15. A kit as claimed in claim  13 , additionally comprising at least one of a Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  monoclonal antibody which is mixed with said sample. 
     
     
       16. A kit as claimed in claim  13 , additionally comprising both Type 5 and Type 8  S. aureus  monoclonal antibodies which are mixed with said sample. 
     
     
       17. A kit for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antibody in a sample as claimed in claim  5 , comprising instructions for performing an enzyme-linked or Western blot assay by mixing said antigen with a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus -specific antibody and monitoring said mixture for binding between with  S. aureus -specific antibody in said sample. 
     
     
       18. A kit for detecting the presence of anti- S. aureus  antigen in a sample as claimed in claim  5 , comprising instructions for performing an enzyme-linked or Western blot assay by mixing said antigen with a sample suspected of containing  S. aureus -specific antibody and monitoring said mixture for binding between with  S. aureus -specific antibody in said sample. 
     
     
       19. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  1 , which is a Western blot or ELISA. 
     
     
       20. A diagnostic assay as claimed in claim  9 , which is a Western blot or ELISA.